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War at the Edge of the World
Unavailable
War at the Edge of the World
Unavailable
War at the Edge of the World
Audiobook12 hours

War at the Edge of the World

Written by Ian Ross

Narrated by Jonathan Keeble

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

()

Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

Once a soldier in an elite legion from the Danube, Aurelius Castus believes his glory days are over, stuck in Britain's provincial backwater. But history is about to take a hand and when the king of the Picts, the savage people beyond Hadrian's Wall, dies in mysterious circumstances, Castus is selected to command the bodyguard of a Roman envoy sent to negotiate with the barbarians. But the diplomatic mission ends in bloody tragedy…
LanguageEnglish
Release dateFeb 5, 2015
ISBN9781471283529
Unavailable
War at the Edge of the World
Author

Ian Ross

Ian Ross was born in England, and studied painting before turning to writing fiction. He has travelled widely, and after a year in Italy teaching English and exploring the ruins of empire reawakened his early love for ancient history, he returned to the UK with growing fascination for the period known as late antiquity. He has been researching and writing about the later Roman world and its army for over a decade. ianjamesross.com @IanRossAuthor

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Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Absolutely enthralling and packed with action! Set in Roman Britain, during late reign of Emperor Constantius and subsequent acclamation of Constantine by the troops in the 4th century A.D., a time not treated much in fiction. Aurelius Castus, a common soldier, who, in fighting Persians, because of his valor at his unthinking rush into the breach when his centurion is killed is made one himself and sent to Roman Britain. He becomes part of a diplomatic mission to the Picts and the mission goes terribly wrong. He gives himself to the Picts in exchange for his men's lives; his century has come with him as honor guard. The envoy takes his own life, rather than suffer brutality. Castus waits for the right opportunity then escapes, making his way back to his fort, pursued by the Picts and their dogs. The town of Isurium and surrounding countryside is burned and the Roman inhabitants killed. Upon the order of the emperor, Constantius, he leads a punitive expedition north again, to destroy native villages, then the Pictish hillfort in which he had been imprisoned.I feel the author chose an excellent name for his unforgettable protagonist. That name expresses his personality perfectly: Castus = Chaste in the secondary senses of decent, simple, uncomplicated. The envoy's daughter, Marcella, expresses it best: "always appearing the strong, obedient soldier, unthinking, like a dumb animal ...but you are a good man, Centurion." She sees something more to him than what others see: she senses something deeper: kindness, maybe even the self-deprecation and lack of self-confidence that I picked up on. I am sure, as this series progresses, he will blossom. His mantras have always been "Duty" and "Following Orders", but he shows great initiative in his evading recapture and his actions at the hillfort. If he can become more assertive outside his military role.... The novel was well written and carried me back into that era. I felt many emotions: identification with Castus and his feelings, anger at the Picts, fear for him on his flight, sadness at the massacre of his century, especially as the Picts had let them go, promising him they would not harm the men. I appreciated that the scenes with Marcella did not turn sexual--that Castus respected her station and the class gulf between them. Outstanding were the pages on the harrowing escape from the Picts and their dogs and the climactic battle at the hillfort, including preparations. I am eager to follow him on his further adventures.Highly recommended.